#1's Revisited (2017)

To listen to the entire playlist on Spotify, click HERE. 

2011, "Light Today" by Eddie Vedder

2012, "Babel" by Mumford and Sons

2013, "Last Mile Home" by Kings of Leon

2014, "My Love" by Humming House

2015, "Little Wanderer" by Death Cab for Cutie

2016, "Was It You" by Anchor + Bell

All-Time, "Little Wanderer" by Death Cab for Cutie

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

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Musical Thesis: Top Songs of 2017

To listen to the entire playlist on Spotify, click HERE. 

"Aquarion" by Grizzly Bear

"Tyson vs. Douglas" by The Killers

"Call It Dreaming" by Iron & Wine

"Right for Sky" by Iron & Wine

"Wake Me Up, I'm Dreaming" by Noah Gundersen 

"Rain in Numbers" by Beach House

"Stone Age" by David Ramirez

"I Am All That I Need/Arroyo Seco/Thumbprint Scar" by Fleet Foxes

"Kept Woman" by Fleet Foxes

"Four Cypresses" by Grizzly Bear

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

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A Reader: Top Books of 2017

A Reader: Top Books of 2017

2017 was one of those years when I decided to tackle some large books on my shelf; “Atlas Shrugged” being the biggest culprit. Given the way I read, often picking and putting books down, I didn’t reach my goal of books to read this year. Nevertheless, below is a list of books that made an impact on me.

“Sons of the Profits” by William Speidel

Living in Seattle for six years, the history behind the founding of the Emerald City fascinated me. Walking around the city, meeting locals, and falling victim to a few tours, gave me some general information about the place I will one-day call home again. To dig a little deeper, I read “Sons of the Profits” and got a far-reaching look at the men and women who landed on Alki in the 1850s. The decisions they made since that fateful day helped shape what is becoming America’s fastest-growing city.

“The Discomfort Zone” by Jonathan Franzen

Jonathan Franzen is a master storyteller. For “The Discomfort Zone,” the focus is turned inward. Instead of reading like a linear story, this book reads like a collection of essays and observations from a man who is beginning to tune his craft. As I finished the book, I couldn’t help but take a long look at my own life. I was inspired to spend more time writing introspectively. I also challenged myself to do a better job of cataloging my observations. If I can achieve either aim, it would be my hope to continue tuning the craft I love so dearly.

“The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis

After reading the “Chronicles of Narnia,” my fellow readers strongly recommended I read “The Screwtape Letters.” The book is about a demon and one of his underlings written in letter form. The elder demon is trying to coach the younger one on how to corrupt a human’s soul. Through frustration and some success, the whole ordeal plays out before the reader. Even though I am someone without much faith, I still found the whole drama fascinating.

“Choke” by Chuck Palahniuk

I have had a love/hate relationship with Chuck Palahniuk for a long time. My relationship began with the movie, “Fight Club.” Lots of my friends believed it to be a masterpiece. I, on the other hand, found it to be confusing and a failure in its attempt to make its larger point. With this in mind, I reluctantly picked up “Choke.” When the dust settled, I found this story to be well thought out and focused. Here our main character is dealing with sexual addiction. Most of the time, the story is hilarious, but it also musters moments of complete heartbreak. In these moments I found endearing and reason enough for a quick read.

“Netherland” by Joseph O’Neill

I cannot imagine what it must have been like to be an immigrant citizen of New York after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. “Netherland,” tells the story of one man trying to hold his family together on top of the shifting sand around him. While this book is not the most compelling read in the world, it does provide some clear and needed insight into a world few of us experienced. Literature, like any other artform, works well when it affords you an opportunity to better understand life through someone else’s eyes.

Be good to each other,

-Nathan

I've never asked readers for financial support before. I am committed to keeping content on this site free and open to all. For me, this means no paywalls or subscription fees. If you like what I create, please consider making a contribution on Patreon. 

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Cinephile No. 692 "The Florida Project"

"Modern Day Hooverville”

A Review of "The Florida Project" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Sean Baker, Writers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch, Starring: Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Willem Dafoe

Rating: 5 Stars, SHOWTIME

The Plot

Set over one summer, the film follows precocious 6-year-old Moonee as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious but caring mother, all while living in the shadows of Disney World.

 My Critique

In the shadow of the happiest place on earth, exists a new and modern Hooverville. Miles apart feel like worlds as families spend hundreds, if not thousands, on hotels, rides, food, and souvenirs at Disney World. Just down the road sits chains upon chains of cheap hotel rooms where families live thanks to affordable weekly rates. This is a new cycle of poverty in America; a product of the Great Recession. Men, women, and children caught between living on the street or in their car and owning their own home. Instead, hotel rooms provide sanctuary.

“The Florida Project” is about the children caught in the middle due to no fault of their own. They didn’t ask for their parents to be sold a subprime mortgage. They never asked for addiction or illness to visit their door. They are kids. They want to play, watch cartoons, make friends, and get into mischief. This film does a brilliant job of showing kids oblivious to the pain of their guardians; just living in their bliss. It is as this point I should tell you how fantastic the child-actors in this movie are. Never before have I seen small children act this well. They made me laugh. They broke my heart. More importantly, they made me care.

The glue of this film is Willem Dafoe. He plays the manager of the Magic Castle, where most of the film takes place. At his core, he is a man doing the best he can. On one hand, he understands kids need to be kids and the pressure their parents/guardians are under. On the other hand, he is trying to run a hotel in the middle of tourist-centric Florida. At times, he plays part father figure and confident. At other times, he is stern and focused on business. His push and pull hold this film together.

At its core, this movie is about survival amid poverty. Bria Vinaite, plays Halley, the mother of new comer Brooklynn Prince, who plays her daughter, Moonee. Halley is a mother who is constantly trying and failing. She is attempting to be a present parent and give her daughter the childhood she wishes she had. She is doing everything in her power to make this dream a reality. This includes selling perfume to tourists and even paid sex. Where Halley fails, is in her youth. She is a young mother still focused on drugs, partying, and sex. Trying to live in both worlds forces a reality upon her small family where survival one day to the next is in doubt. At times, the struggle is hard to watch. For most of us, this is a world unknown. That’s a good thing! Good movies should make us feel uncomfortable.

A movie like “The Florida Project” can only really end in one of two ways. The family can be rescued from poverty or the whole thing can come crashing down. We’ve seen the first movie before. The second storyline is much more intriguing. The movie decides to take the second route and in doing so humanizes the entire experience in a way which makes this movie a true Oscar contender.

Be good to each other,

-Nathan

I've never asked readers for financial support before. I committed to keeping content on this site free and open to all. For me, this means no paywalls or subscription fees. If you like what I create, please consider making a contribution on Patroen. 

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Cinephile No. 691 "Lady Bird"

"Because of Sacramento”

A Review of "Lady Bird" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Greta Gerwig, Writer: Greta Gerwig, Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Odeya Rush, Timothee Chalamet

Rating: 5 Stars, SHOWTIME

The Plot

In the early 2000s, an artistically-inclined seventeen-year-old comes of age in Sacramento, California.

 My Critique

William Faulkner was a Nobel Prize laureate from Oxford, Mississippi. To read his work is to read a man in contention with the place he calls home. On one hand, it is the anthesis of everything he believes. On the other hand, it is his muse; his greatest source of inspiration. In “Lady Bird,” we meet a teenage woman on the cusp of greatness all because of the push and pull of the place she calls home, Sacramento, California. Much like Faulkner, she finds herself both inspired and bored by her surroundings. This film serves as her roadmap to self-discovery. The journey becomes one of the great movies of the 2017 Oscar season.

Bless liberal arts kids. They always want to live through something. We seek trial and tribulation hoping it will define our character. We hunt for these challenges in the books we read, stories we consume, people we meet, journeys we take, work we do, and service we provide. In doing so, we hope to understand the human condition and our relationship to it. We need to learn something about ourselves and use it as a means to measure ourselves against the world.

For Lady Bird, her journey of discovery and challenge begins inside the confines of a Catholic high school. She is entering her senior year of high school. A year in which we all apply too much pressure because we feel as if some chapter is closing which can never be opened again. She desperately wants to flee from Sacramento to an East coast college. Here she believes she will finally be allowed to grow and bloom into something original and meaningful. Little does she know but the metamorphosis is already underway.

The first example begins with her first brush with teenage love. Like most things at this age, love is fleeting, heartbreaking, and filled with surprises. We don’t realize it at the time because we are unable to see beyond ourselves but every teenager we know is searching for meaning and hoping to create their best selves. This invites instant connections, sadness, and loyalties that seem to change with the wind. Greta Gerwig, the writer and director of this film, captures this moment in time better than almost any person who has become before her.

The second example focuses on the volatile mother and teenage daughter relationship. At the age of 13, boys look at their fathers and think they know nothing about how the world should or really works. At the age of 13 girls look at their mothers and think the same thing. “Lady Bird” perfectly captures the tug-of-war that exists between mothers and their daughters at this age. As the film rolls forward, we discover Lady Bird and her mother have more in common than we think. We also discover that children can be pretty unforgiving to their parents. We make judgments without any knowledge about their life experiences or the challenges of their living. Here again, our writer/director scores another win for showing us what it is really like to be a modern parent.

In the end, this is a heartwarming, funny, and brutally honest film about one woman’s journey toward becoming the best version of herself. While I think it is wrong to believe Oscar season begins in November and lasts through the releases of January, this is without a doubt one of the best films of the year and deserves some recognition.

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

I've never asked readers for financial suppot before. I committed to keeping content on this site free and open to all. For me this means no paywalls or subscription fees. If you like what I create, please consider making a contribution on Patroen. Become a Patron!

Cinephile No. 690 "Justice League"

"Pulling the Team Together”

A Review of "Justice League" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Zack Snyder, Writers: Chris Terrio, Joss Whedon, Starring: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3 Stars, STREAM

The Plot

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.

 My Critique

When I was a little kid, I would go to the grocery store with my mom and plop myself down in front of the magazine rack while she shopped. If I really wanted a certain issue but didn’t have enough allowance saved up, I would hide the issue behind the magazine rack and retrieve it later. My favorite superheroes were Batman and Spider-man. Batman because he was just a normal man called to do extraordinary things. Spider-man because he was sort of dork like me. Between the two major comic book companies, DC and Marvel, I always gravitated toward DC for no reason other than I liked the characters.

In the never-ending world of comic book movies, there is one gold standard film which I judge all other movies against and that is “The Dark Knight.” I believe Christopher Nolan’s movie to be more than just the best superhero movie ever created. I believe it to be one of the best movies ever made. Rightly or wrongly, I compare every Marvel or DC movie against this standard. I have yet to see a film from either company that comes anywhere near Nolan’s exceptional work.

As I snuggled into my theater chair to watch “Justice League,” the memory of how “The Dark Knight” made me feel lingered in the back of my mind. From the beginning, you can tell this film is trying to strike a somber tone. The world is without Superman and is coming to terms with that means. For Batman played by Ben Affleck and Wonder Woman played by Gal Gadot, this means any oncoming threat will have to be faced without one of the strongest beings in the galaxy. From the first scene of the movie, it is apparent something sinister is coming and it will take a powerful team to defeat it. Almost immediately, Bruce Wayne begins the work of assembling his team.

This act of pulling people together created my first major challenge with this film. When it comes to Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg, there is very little character development. Unlike the Marvel Universe, those of us in the DC realm, have had to rely on the comic books for these lesser known characters. We haven’t had the benefit of building up to the assembling of this team. In my estimation, this was a mistake. The writers of this film do their best to give us some backstory, but it feels rushed and shallow.

While the team is being assembled, we meet Steppenwolf. He suffers from one of my biggest complaints with all comic book movies and that is poor villain development. Beyond a desire to destroy the world, we never learn much about these people. We have no clue what drives or motivates their violent wrath. Instead, we are asked to believe in their evil ways and move on from there.

As you can imagine, pulling together a team such as this involves stroking some egos. It is in these moments this film really shines. Each one of these scenes is human and features a good deal of humor. At least enough humor to save us from the persistent thought of the entire world coming to an end.

In preparation for the final battle, it becomes apparent our heroes can’t do it alone. They need someone with superhuman strength fighting alongside them. I won’t say any more than that. I am not one to spoil a movie.

The final battle is pretty enthralling for comic book movie. It is still an orgy of computer animated graphics, people flying through walls, and the usually associated drama. There is enough here though to keep you engaged and on the edge of your seat. As the dust settles and our heroes come together, we are left to ponder the next installment in this franchise. Whatever direction DC chooses, I hope they focus more on developing these stories and their characters. Those of us who have longtime fans deserve that.

Be good to each other,

-Nathan

Cinephile No. 689 "Murder on the Orient Express"

"The Reveal"

A Review of "Murder on the Orient Express" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Kenneth Branagh, Writers: Michael Green, Agatha Christie, Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe

Rating: 2 Stars, SKIP

The Plot

When a murder occurs on the train he's traveling on, celebrated detective Hercule Poirot is recruited to solve the case.

 My Critique

What “Murder on the Orient Express” must accomplish in two hours to be considered a decent movie is a lot of heavy lifting. It must introduce us to a world-renowned detective and make a case for his right to solve the murder aboard the train. It then must introduce us to a whole cast of characters, all of whom are potential murders. After the introduction, it must develop these character in such a way that the audience is suspicious of all of them. Within each person, we must recognize a motive. Finally, it must solve the mystery in a satisfying manner. With a cast of characters this large, none of this easy. This film succumbs to its own weight and falls to confusion because of the daunting task it creates for itself from the very beginning.

Our main and most compelling character is Hercule Poirot. He has a nose for perfection and unique idiosyncrasies making him an uncommon man but a near perfect detective. As he boards, the Orient Express, an immediate seed of conflict is planted between the characters onboard. This is a wonderful tool that has you guessing from the beginning about who will be murdered and who did it.

Not long after departing the station, murder! With so many potential suspects, this case becomes a test of strength for our hero. It also becomes a test of strength for the audience. I dare anyone to watch this movie and not become engrossed in the confusion. You’ll find yourself tripping over details, passenger characteristics, and motives. At some point for me, it all became too much. I checked out and stopped caring. In the end, all I wanted was the reveal and to get one with my life.

Then the reveal came, and I found it underwhelming. Of course, I won’t give anything away here for those who still want to see the movie. I will say this though, temper your expectations for something big and grandiose. For this reason and the cloud of confusion hanging over this movie, I recommend you skip it.

Be good to each other,

-Nathan

Cinephile No. 688 "Thor: Ragnarok"

"The Hammer Falls"

A Review of "Thor: Ragnarok" by Nathan H. Box

Director: Taika Waititi, Writers: Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle, Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett

Rating: 3 Stars, STREAM

The Plot

Imprisoned, the almighty Thor finds himself in a lethal gladiatorial contest against the Hulk, his former ally. Thor must fight for survival and race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home and the Asgardian civilization.

My Critique

My level of excitement for another addition to the Thor franchise was somewhere between watching paint dry and watching a “Downton Abbey” marathon on an endless loop. The first entry in this franchise did absolutely nothing for me. In fact, it left so little of an impression I skipped the second film altogether. Not wanting to be left behind in the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, I decided to take one for the team and venture out to my local cinema for “Thor: Ragnarok.”

From the beginning, the tone of this movie is different. I mean, my lord, Jeff Goldblum is in this thing! Somewhere along the way, the writers figured out that they were taking themselves too seriously. In this film, there are a lot of jokes. Those jokes land over and over. So much so, that it would be completely conceivable to think of this as a comedy instead of a drama based superhero movie.

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe draws closer and closer to the “Infinity War,” there is a concerted effort to have characters from other films interacting with lead actors in their solo films. Think Iron Man featured throughout “Spider-man: Homecoming.” In this film, Thor crosses paths with Doctor Strange and Hulk. As a viewer, these moments are welcome because up to this point this entire effort has felt like a daunting attempt to assemble a 1,000-piece puzzle of nothing more than a snowy landscape.

Of course, no superhero movie would be complete without a villain. Here, we meet Hela played by Cate Blanchett. Without a doubt, Ms. Blanchett is one of the greatest actors of this current generation. She has a way of commanding the screen in such a quiet and defined manner. In this movie, she is pure evil and plays the part magnificently. There is a scene in the film where Thor’s hammer falls to her power. Then and there, you know we are dealing with something extraordinary. Yet, we run into the same problem we find in these films repeatedly. The motivation and plotlines for the villain are so underdeveloped that we as an audience don’t grow to fear or understand them. Instead, we treat them as a nuisance. They are nothing more than a hurdle to leap before we move onto the next installment in the franchise.

Also, a regular feature in superhero adventures is the final boss battle. Over the last decade, these scenes have become an orgy of CGI and this meeting between hero and villain is no different. Of course, it features a little comic book magic and an amazing soundtrack to get you involved but like most of the movie, I found it sort of boring. Now, I do think this is the best entry in the franchise. Overall though, like most Gods, I don’t find the character of Thor relatable. Therefore, I believe this movie is best streamed in the comfort of your home.

Be good to each other,

-Nathan

Cinephile No. 687 "Suburbicon"

"Two Stories at Once"

A Review of "Suburbicon" by Nathan H. Box

Directors: George Clooney, Writers: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Starring: Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Oscar Isaac

Rating: 2 Stars, SKIP

The Plot

A home invasion rattles a quiet family town. 

My Critique

"Suburbicon" is the most oddly toned movie of 2017. On one hand, it is attempting to tell a powerful civil rights story about an African American family moving to the suburbs. On the other hand, it tries to tell the story of a family rocked by a home invasion gone awry and the community left questioning their sense of safety, togetherness, and place. Where the movie fails is in its attempt to tell two stories at once. At no point in the movie, do they make a solid connection between the stories beyond pointing out the African American family neighbors those who are the victims of the home invasion. You as an audience member will spend most of the film trying to reconcile these two plats which end up being nothing more than a distraction. 

Of the two stories, the more compelling one focuses on the African American family. In many ways, their story is the one that will resonate with audiences. Chasing the American dream, they move to the suburbs to chase good schools, higher paying jobs, and a sense of community. Instead, they meet ever-increasing intimidation, bullying, and violence. As the movie plows forward, you begin to fear for their safety. As the film draws toward its a conclusion, some of your greatest fears are realized. As a white man, I left the theater disappointed in people who share my skin color and a sincere hope we've recovered from this ignorance. Of course, all I have to do is turn on my television to realize we have much work to do. 

The second story focuses on a forbidden love between a father (Matt Damon) and his sister-in-law (Julianne Moore). In their grand scheme to finally be together, they have managed to engineer at least one failed attempt to kill Matt Damon's current wife. A home invasion gone wrong is their latest attempt and it is the one that finally does the trick. As they wait to collect a life insurance policy, their plan begins to fall apart. If you have seen any movie ever, you know the best-laid plans of those who do evil always fall apart. The only question to be answered is the degree to which they fall. For this film, things begin to falter thanks to a pretty smart kid. Noah Jupe plays Nicky, the son of Matt Damon's character. In my opinion, he absolutely steals the show. In many ways, he is the only redeeming person we get to meet. 

In the end, "Suburbicon" is a strange movie that fails to connect on a number of layers. Given the cast, writers, and director, I had high hopes for this film. Like those who choose suburban life over the city, I was left disappointed and a bit mystified. For these reasons, I suggest you skip this film. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan

Cinephile No. 686 "The Mountain Between Us"

"Love Ruined a Movie"

A Review of "The Mountain Between Us" by Nathan H. Box

Directors: Hany Abu-Assad, Writers: J. Mills Goodloe, Charles Martin, Starring: Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, Beau Bridges

Rating: 3 Stars, STREAM

The Plot

Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow-covered mountain. When they realize help is not coming, they embark on a perilous journey across the wilderness.

My Critique

"The Mountain Between Us" could have easily been called "A Series of Unfortunate Events" but Lemony Snicket has already claimed that title. Every decision our lead characters make in this film births a more complicated decision to be made in the future. As they battle the unforgiving power of nature, we are treated to a test of wills and survival. 

This film wastes no time introducing the conflict to be overcome. In fact, it comes within the first ten minutes of the movie. For me, this was welcome. Instead of developing characters slowly and then forcing them to survive after a plane crash, the writers decided to introduce the problem and then develop the characters from there. Anytime the story-telling model is turned upside down, I applaud it. 

After the plane crash, we are introduced to the quiet violence of nature. The director and cinematographer do really great jobs of framing the sense of loneliness and peril before our main characters. After the crash, the first great decision must be made; to either stay or leave. Kate Winslet's character is for leaving. Idris Elba's character thinks they should stay and wait to be rescued. As an audience member, you know they aren't staying. You know they are going to test their luck in the open wild. For me, I welcomed such a test. Man versus nature is not a movie plot I am tired of seeing. 

Then things get complicated. The bond between our two lead characters turns from one of mutual survival to one of romance. Here, the story began to lose me. I have often heard of harrowing events doing strange things to people. Movies and books like to tell us that when we think the end is near we need someone to hold and love. I didn't think this movie was going to go in that direction. I was wrong. For me, I didn't think this movie needed this plot point to be good. In my view, love ruined this movie. 

As our characters get dressed and on with the business of trying to survive, the end seems to be within arms reach. Here, there is a fantastic turn in the story that leaves you guessing for a few moments. Yet, even that moment is ruined by the reintroduction of the love story. 

What I was left with to admire about this film was the ability of Idris Elba and Kate Winslet to hold the screen by themselves for most of the movie. Instead of playing off a full cast of characters, they are forced to rely on their abilities and treat nature like the character to be reckoned with that she is. For me, this was the more interesting path for the film. Instead, it became a love story and for that I recommend streaming this movie. 

Be good to each other, 

-Nathan